Doing Qualitative Research

Abstract

This chapter focuses on general aspects of the qualitative research process. Language is a fundamental aspect of all qualitative research. At a basic level, qualitative research strives to understand the traditions, contexts, usages and meanings of words, concepts and ideas. Qualitative researchers ask research questions, search for meaning, look for useful ways to talk about experiences within a specific historical, cultural, economic and/or political context, and consider the research process within relevant social practices. The qualitative research process often consists of five distinct phases: choosing a topic of study; constructing a research question and picking a method of analysis based on an interpretive paradigm or theoretical framework; gathering evidence; analyzing and interpreting evidence; and crafting a research report. In contemporary digital society, researchers have access to a variety of big data sets that offer them a wealth of information on media-related topics. Using big data sets may certainly provide researchers with valuable information on economic, political and/or social issues.